Our Charities

In February of 1976, 35 years ago, Dr. Steve Markus opened his practice on White Horse Pike in South Jersey. The following year, Ron Jaworski was traded from the Rams to the Eagles. Both have had distinguished professional careers, and both have been philanthropic leaders in South Jersey. Jaworski has distinguished himself first with The United Way, and now, his personal foundation, the Jaws? Youth Fund. Markus has been connected with Smiles for Life, Smiles for Wildlife (which he founded), Halloween Candy Collection for US Troops, and fundraisers for a myriad of local causes.

We are proud to announce that Jaws and Dr. Markus joined forces for the 2011 Smiles for Life Campaign. Dr. Markus’ Dental Dream-team will whiten smiles in exchange for a donation to the Smiles for Life Foundation. Half of the dollars collected will go to the Jaws Youth Fund. The remainder will be distributed to national children’s charities by Garth Brooks’ Teammates for Kids. Mr. Brooks’ organization absorbs all management costs, so that 100% of the funds raised will go to disadvantaged, disabled and troubled youth locally and nationally.

The mission of the Jaws Youth Fund is to improve the overall health and wellness of at-risk youth, primarily in the Greater Philadelphia Region. We will do this by raising awareness and advocating for the access to safe play and healthy choices, and supporting programs providing positive youth health and wellness platforms. The JYF develops partnerships and offers assistance to programs and organizations that help support youth health and wellness. The JYF also participates in fundraising events and campaigns to support programs and grants to deserving organizations that work to promote and implement long-lasting solutions to the overall health and wellness of at-risk youth. The Jaws Youth Fund has given away more than $3 million in charitable donations since its inception.

Local citizens and Markus’ patients are asked to make an appointment to get their smiles whitened, and make a donation to the Smiles For Life Foundation. His office is conveniently located on White Horse Pike, ½ mile west of exit 29 of I295.

“The professional tooth whitening procedure is painless and only requires a few minutes in the dental chair. Patients can have whiter teeth in just three days—but those minutes that you spend at home and in the chair can help touch a child’s life forever” explains Dr. Markus. “My team and I are ready to professionally whiten people’s teeth for a great cause, and I’m inviting all members of my community to make an appointment with me during my Smiles for Life campaign to give themselves—and a child—a reason to smile.”

The Smiles for Life Foundation is the children’s charity organization of the Crown Council, an organization of leading-edge dentists throughout North America. Each year over a four-month period, Crown Council dentists participating in the Smiles for Life campaign offer professional teeth whitening services at a considerably reduced price and donate 100 percent of the proceeds to children’s charities.

The Crown Council’s Smiles for Life Foundation has raised more than $25 million since 1998, benefiting nearly 500 children’s charities across North America. Since joining the campaign, Dr. Markus has raised over $150,000.

Through a unique partnership with legendary entertainer Garth Brooks and his Teammates For Kids Foundation, Smiles For Life guarantees that a full 50 percent of the money raised by Crown Council members like Dr. Markus goes to children’s charities in communities across North America. The remaining 50 percent is contributed to a Local children’s charity.

“Dentists and their office teams perform all services for free, the people at Discus Dental donate all of the whitening supplies, and children that really need our help get 100 percent of the money to get a great start in life,” explains Greg Anderson, director of the Crown Council and one of the founding members of Smiles for Life. “It’s a win-win situation—everyone gets a reason to smile.”

To whiten your smile and brighten the life of a child contact Dr. Markus and schedule an appointment before the end of June.

Dr. Markus presents a check for almost $2500 from Smiles for Life dollars raised in 2004 for the Nina Plant Fund to the parents and siblings of Ninamarie Plant.  The fund benefits Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and Sloan-Kettering Hospital in NYC.

Candy for Troops 2007- Candy Collection is over -- exceeds 5200 pounds. Read all about it.

Our collections exceeded 8000 lbs in 2008

In 2006 we donated to the following organizations when people whitened their smiles:

Smiles for Life: $7375, Children's dental foundation: $2225, Volunteers of America total:$1775, Juvenile Diabetes $1450; Prader Willi total $300; Durand Academy :$1325

Our Donations through Pink Ribbon Smiles: The Wellness Community of Philadelphia: $3100 Living Beyond Breast Cancer: $5275

Total Donations over $23000 - Thank you to all our patients who helped make this possible. We look forward to 2007 being even stronger.

Every year our office does considerable charity work. In 2004, we raised close to $26,000 for Smiles for Life. The proceeds nationwide from this campaign were close to  $2 Million!  Our office was in the top ten in the nation.

Learn about Smiles for Life, and how your tax deductible donation can help The Garth Brooks Teammates for Kids and The Jaws Youth Foundation and get your teeth whitened. Fifty percent of the dollars raised locally stay locally.  The full remainder is distributed to national charities selected by Garth's organization.  We have delivered checks to orgainizations like Volunteers of America and Juvenile Diabetes.

For 2011 our goal is to whiten the smiles of 250 benefactors for the benefit of Jaws Youth Foundation.

As a member of Crown Council, Dr. Markus actively participates in the Adopt a Platoon campaign, to provide needed supplies to our troops in Iraq.

We also feel very strongly about what children are watching on Television. If you want to learn more about the Parents' Television Council, click here.

We also donate to the Wiesenthal Center and Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

In response to the fire tragedy in Gloucester City, our patients donated $2500 to the families of the three men taken before their time. Read More